Greetings, fellow equines!
It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood draught mare, penning another entry in my historical ramblings from the rolling green hills of Hayfield, near Aberdeen, Scotland. I’m a big girl – a grey, you see, with a snowy mane and tail, and at 20, I’ve got some stories to tell. It's 1680, a year filled with whispers of new possibilities for our kind. So, settle in, grab your favourite hay, and let me whisk you through what it’s like to be a working horse in this fascinating period of history.
The Work of the Horses - As Always
Our lives as draught horses remain much the same as they always have been: hard work, strong companionship, and an unshakeable connection to the land. The sunrise, as ever, heralds a symphony of whinnies as we lumber out of our stables, the scent of freshly-mown grass filling our nostrils. It’s a beautiful morning for our daily tasks, pulling plows through the fertile soil of Hayfield, or transporting barley to the local mill. My farmer, Mr. Gordon, is a kind man who treats us well, and his gentle voice reassures us throughout the day.
Of course, some tasks are tougher than others, especially hauling heavy stones for building, or wrestling with stubborn logs in the winter woods. But the companionship of my fellow mares and the knowing glances we share keep the workload bearable. Even though we toil in different fields, the knowledge of a shared purpose keeps us going. And after the day’s toil, a good feed of oats and a shared evening graze in the soft meadow under the setting sun is all we need to unwind.
New Fashionable Pastimes for Our Elite Peers
Though our days are full of physical tasks, I do enjoy a bit of gossip, too. Our local blacksmith, a charming fellow with an arm stronger than a blacksmith's tongs, tells me that in the big cities, a new type of ‘fashionable' horse is rising.
He calls them ‘High Horses’, sleek, stylish creatures with proud faces and elegant coats – they’re used for racing and ‘Riding for pleasure,’ as he says. Though I have no knowledge of such fancy activities, they sound intriguing. These fashionable creatures even sport decorative leather bridles, something we’d never wear while working the fields.
These tales are often met with gentle snorts and whinnies from the older horses. You see, the only riding they know is riding out to pasture. Still, one can’t help but wonder what life is like for these ‘High Horses' in the big cities!
Signs of Progress in our Horse-kind
As well as these fancy high-steppers, Mr. Gordon’s son, Tom, tells tales of other horses on voyages to ‘foreign lands.’ These stories are told in hushed tones, a reminder that some of us endure the dangers of ocean voyages – horses being used for trade, for pulling carts across foreign shores, and some even to fight, he says. He doesn't tell us what the fighting is about, but it makes my spirit uneasy, this idea of using horses in violence.
Despite this darker side to our travels, it seems that our horse-kind is becoming more significant. There is talk of new inventions, new carriages, and even special "horseshoes" with more intricate shapes and sizes to suit different purposes. They sound quite wondrous! There is much to hope for, perhaps in these times of change, we may see horses enjoying a more comfortable and even better life, as the world marches on!
* A Promise For The Future*
But I digress. These are just tales told amongst our equine circles, and the whispers of the wind, I must now return to the field and carry on my daily routine. Until next time, when I may have further news for all of you to mull over - perhaps news of more innovations or developments in our world?
Happy trails, and May your pastures be green!
